Peabody City Council To Talk Proposed $200 Trash Fee Amid Backlash Campaign

PEABODY, MA — The Peabody City Council Finance Subcommittee will host a public meeting within the next few weeks to discuss a trash fee that Mayor Ted Bettencourt said is necessary to push off a Proposition 2 1/2 override, amid an online campaign against the new fee.

Bettencourt told the City Council two weeks ago that a $200 trash fee per housing unit would raise $2.7 million for the city at a time when health insurance costs, Essex Tech assessments, and salary costs involved with recent collective-bargaining agreements are escalating beyond the tax levy's ability to absorb them without an override.

• Peabody Mayor Proposes Trash Fee, Water, Sewer Rate Hikes Amid Budget Crunch

"It has been something that we, as a city, haven't had to tackle," Bettencourt said. "But I think that is something that is necessary for our city operations as we prepare to hold off on Proposition 2 1/2 override votes in our future."

An online open letter opposing the trash fee, as well as undefined sewer and water fee increases, has since made the rounds on community message boards, with residents encouraging the letter to be sent to City Councilors who will ultimately vote on whether or not to support the fees.

"The residents of Peabody already contribute significantly through taxes and municipal fees, and many community members are deeply concerned about the additional financial burden this proposed trash fee would create," the letter said. "At a time when families are already struggling with rising housing, medical, and everyday living expenses, another recurring fee feels unreasonable."

The letter said residents "want greater transparency and accountability regarding how existing tax revenue is being spent before additional charges are imposed."

"There is also strong concern that residents are being asked to pay twice for the same service, as trash collection is already funded in part through existing taxes that have already increased," the letter said. "Many believe the city should first reevaluate spending priorities and budget allocations before placing yet another financial burden on taxpayers.

"Residents deserve responsible budgeting, greater transparency, and leadership that prioritizes easing the financial burden on taxpayers — not continually adding to it."

Bettencourt told the City Council earlier this month that North Shore communities average between $100 and $500 per household for trash and that he is aiming to be "on the lower end of that."

Beverly Mayor Michael Cahill has proposed increasing the trash fee from $100 to $425 in that city as the new contract for automated trash pickup grew from $3.9 million to $5.2 million per year starting this July.

Bettencourt said Peabody has six years remaining on its Republic Services contract.

Bettencourt said he intended to propose the trash fee and rate increases, while presenting a budget that also includes municipal position cuts, along with the hiring of an auctioneer to examine the sale of surplus city property to mitigate the budget crunch, and a senior tax work abatement program.

Peach said the Committee of the Whole meeting will "likely be on an off night" instead of prior to a full Council meeting on a Thursday.

"So I do ask that if any Councilors have dates coming up that they know they will not be here," she said at this Thursday's meeting, "to please let me know because we will be scheduling that shortly."